mae
“mae” means “dude” in Spanish (informal address to a friend).
dude, guy
Also: man, person
📝 In Action
Ese mae es muy buena gente.
A1That guy is a very nice person.
¿Qué pasó, mae?
A1What happened, dude?
Había un mae vendiendo comida en la esquina.
B1There was a guy selling food on the corner.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mae
Question 1 of 3
In which country is 'mae' most commonly used?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from 'maje', which originally meant 'dumb' or 'foolish' (related to the word for a mallet or hammer). Over time, the 'j' sound was dropped, and the meaning shifted from an insult to a friendly way to address anyone.
First recorded: Mid-20th century
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mae' offensive?
Generally, no. Among friends, it is very friendly. However, calling an older person or an authority figure 'mae' is considered rude because it is very informal.
Is it the same as 'wey' in Mexico?
Yes! It serves the exact same cultural function as 'wey' in Mexico, 'tío' in Spain, or 'che' in Argentina.
How do you pronounce it?
It's two distinct vowel sounds: 'mah-eh'. It shouldn't sound like the English word 'may'; make sure to pronounce the 'e' at the end like the 'e' in 'pet'.